Tajik Opposition Parties Still Face 'Pressure,' Report Says

Galina Derevenchenko, from the Republican Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law, told RFE/RL's Tajik Service that 2005 was marked by the arrests and trials of several opposition figures.

She also noted the "substantial number of violations" of electoral standards during the parliamentary elections held in February 2005.

The report also cites problems with the registration of media, access to information, and criminal cases brought against journalists.

The report states that the governments maintains "strong control" over the courts and judges.